Latching and locking devices



July 23, 1968 c. s. GEHRIE LATCHING AND LOCKING DEVICES 3 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Nov. 19, 1965 Fuge INVENTOR. CHARLES s. :acume ATTQRNEY July 23, 1968 c. s. GEHRIE 3,393,539

LATCHING AND LOCKING DEVICES Filed Nov. 19, 1965 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

cHAnLEs s. guagua ATTQRNEY July 23, 1968 c. sv GEHRIE 3,393,539

LATCHING AND LOCKING DEVICES Filed Nov. 19, 1965 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 24A l I l w 22 22 V v 44 w \22' |22 -los 3o loo G4 52' G2 s2 c 1/ @e 1o D FIETS 4 A 24' az' me I. i@ Q58 @ser aa W F'.l 9 INVENTOR CHARLES S. GEHRE ATTORNEY United States Patent O 3,393,539 LATCHING AND LOCKING DEVICES Charles S. Gehrie, Montclair, NJ., assigner t Presto Igocllri Co., Inc., Garleld, NJ., a corporation 0f New Filed Nov. 19, 1965, Ser. No. 508,740 11 Claims. (Cl. 70-71) ABSTRACT 0F THE DISCLOSURE A latching device which employs a latch member mounted for longitudinal movement to latched and unlatched positions and vice versa. The latch member is provided with cam means cooperalble witha hasp to eject the hasp when the latch member is move-d Ito unlatched position and to draw the hasp toward the latching device when the latch member is moved to latched position. Also, the latch member is actuated by a manually operable, pivotally mounted lever which may be locked by a bolt 4cooperable with means provided by the lever.

The invention relates to improvements in latching devices and latching and locking devices for luggage cases and like receptacles.

An object of the invention is to provide a latching device and an associated hasp which are constructed to cause the hasp to be firmly ejected by a direct, positive and non-resilient force applied thereto upon unlatching the device.

Another object of the invention is to provide a lever actuated latching ydevice of a novel and rugged construction.

A further object of the invention is to provide a lever actuated latching device which furnishes a camming action to eject an associated hasp when the latching device is unlatched, the ejection being accomplished firmly and independently of any spring action.

Still a further object of the invention is to provide a lever operated latching device which, when assembled with a luggage case or the like, furnishes a substantially flat, smooth, exposed area of minimum projection from the adjoining outer surface of the luggage case, whereby the contour lines of the luggage case are not ydisturbed or marred lby any appreciable upstanding projection of the device from the case.

Still another object is to provide the latching device of the invention with means for releasably locking the latch member thereof in latched position.

These, and other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the drawings illustrating a preferred embodiment of the invention, in which:

FIG. l is a partial perspective view of a luggage case 'having assembled therewith a pair of latching and locking devices made in accordance with the invention, the devices lbeing `shown in latched condition;

FIG. 2 is a partial top plan view of a luggage case showing the relationship of a latching device and associated hasp in the latched condition of the device, the latching device and hasp being shown on an enlarged scale;

FIG. 3 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view taken approximately in the plane of line 3-3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 3, except that the latch member is shown in its unlatched position;

FIG. 5 is a top plan view of the latch member contained in its housing, part of the housing being broken away for cla-rity in illustration;

FIG. 6 is a partial top plan view of the latch member and associated hasp illustrating the manner in which the Patented `luly 23, 1968 latch member acts to draw the hasp toward the latching device when the latch member is moved from unlatched to latched position;

FIG. 6A is a View similar to FIG. 6, except that the latch member is shown being moved from latched to unlatched position, whereupon the latch member causes thel hasp to be ejected or pushed away from the latch member and the latching device of which it is a part;

FIG. 7 is a transverse cross-sectional View taken' approximately in the plane of line 77 of FIIG. 2;

FIG. 8 is a bottom plan view of a sub-assembly comprising the plate member and the means for actuating the latch member; and

FIG. 9 is a bottom plan View of the plate assembly which includes the plate member, means for actuating the latch member, resilient means associated with said means, and means for supporting a locking bolt, this view showing the assembly connected to the wall of a luggage case with the wall broken away for clarity in illustration.

Referring to the drawings, a latching device made in accordance with the invention generally comprises a plate member A, means B for operating or actuating a latch member, and a latch member C. The latch member is mounted for movement longitudinally or lengthwise of the latching device for latching engagement with and disengagement from a hasp D. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 7, the latching device, which essentially comprises the assembled plate emmber A, the means B for actuating the latch member and the latch member C, is connected to the wall W of one half of a luggage case, and the hasp D is connected to the wall W of the other half of the luggage case. The case halves are hinged to one another at their undersides in a manner well known in the art.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the means B for actuating the latch member is in the form of a lever pivotally mounted with respect to the plate member A. The latch actuating lever comprises a lever ar-m which is exposed on the outer side of the latching `device and arm means which extends below the plate member in direct cooperative relationship with the latch member C. The lever for actuating the latch member, the plate member and the latch member are so related that when the lever is in the down position (FIGS. l, 2, 3 and 7), the latch member Cis in latching engagement with the hasp D (FIGS. 2 and 7). When the latch actuating lever is rotated from its latched position to the unlatc-hed position shown in FIG. 4, the latch member is disengaged from the hasp.

As will be subsequently explained, the latch member C and the hasp D preferably are constructed so that, upon unlatching, the hasp is positivelly ejected or pushed away from the latching device, whereby the case section to which the hasp is secured is positively separated from the opposite case section or the section to which the latching device is secured. Also, the latch member and the hasp are constructed so that a drawing action is imposed upon the hasp when the latch member is moved from unlatched to latched position, thereby drawing the case halves together. The ejecting and drawing actions are accomplished independently of any spring action. While the means B for operating the latch member has a spring E related thereto, the spring functions solely to resiliently maintain such means in its respective latched and unlatched positions. The ejection and drawing actions are obtained lby translating the longitudinal movement imparted to the latch member into a force acting transversely upon the hasp, such transversely directed force or pressure being applied directly, positively and independently of any spring action.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the latching device is provided with a locking bolt F for releasably maintaining or locking the latch actuating means or lever B, and its associated latch member C, in their latched position. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the locking bolt has a usual key barrel G associated therewith to permit the insertion of a key (not shown) so that the locking bolt may be moved from its unlocked to locked position and vice versa. As shown in FIGS. 3, 4 and 9, means H in the form of a cover plate is provided to support the locking bolt F in assembled relationship with the plate member A. As will be subsequently explained, the cover plate preferably is formed to also provide means to secure the latch actuating lever B in pivoted relationship with the respect to the plate member A.

In greater detail, and in accordance with the illustrated and preferred embodiment of the invention, the plate member A is substantially rectangular in outline, and preferably is made by die casting so that a number of the parts thereof which are about to be described may be made integrally therewith with a consequent savings in the cost of manufacture of the parts and the cost of assembly. Also, by die casting the plate member, the means for attaching it to the wall of a luggage case may extend from the underside of the plate member and thereby leave its exposed surface free of headed rivets, screws or the like. For design purposes, the substantially rectangular plate member may be arcuately contoured or rounded at one end thereof as illustrated.

The plate member A is provided with a central, longitudinal recess or depression which extends for a substantial part of the plate members length. The recess terminates at one end thereof in an opening 12 which extends through the plate member. The opening has a width substantially equal to the width of the recess. The recess is defined by a bottom wall 14 and longitudinally extending side walls 16, 16. The side walls also define the opposite sides of the opening 12. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, at the end of the recess opposite the end where the opening 12 is located, the bottom wall is preferably formed with an arcuate portion 18 rising to the level of the upper surface 20 of the plate member. As will `be subsequently described, part of the mean-s B for actuating the latch member is positioned within the recess 10 and related to the arcuate portion 18 to facilitate the insertion of ones nger so that the latch actuating means may be rotated to unlatched position.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the means B for actuating the latch member is preferably in the form of a bell crank lever. The lever is provided at one end thereof with pivot means for cooperation with the plate member. Preferably, the lever is made by die casting and has integrally formed therewith a pair of transversely extending trunnions 22, 22. It will be understood that a separate pin may be provided to extend through an opening extended through the lever at the location of the trunnions. The pivot means or trunnions are received in a pair of transversely spaced open bearings 24, 24'. The bearings are provided on the underside of the plate member A adjacent the opening 12 and in the walls 16, 16 defining the sides of the opening. With the plate member formed as a casting, such bearings are simply semi-cylindrical depressions cast into the underside of the plate member which extend to the opening 12.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the latch actuating lever B comprises a long arm 26 extending longitudinally from the axis of the pivot means or trunnions 22, 22', and short arm means preferably in the form of transversely spaced, parallel arms 2S, 28. The pair of arms 28, 28 is shown in FIGS. 7, 8 and 9. They extend downwardly from the horizontal axis of the trunnions at an angle of approximately 120 to the plane of the arm 26. Although a single arm .may be used, for the purpose of balance and symmetry and to better accommodate the spring member E, it is preferred that the latch actuating lever be made to provide the pair of transversely spaced parallel arms.

The latch actuating lever B is assembled with the plate member A by extending the lever arm 26 through the opening 12 from the underside of the plate member and positioning the trunnions 22, 22' in the bearings 24, 24. As shown in FIG. 2, the lever arm 26 has a width slightly less than the width of the opening 12 so that the lever arm may be inserted through the opening. The trunnions 22, 22', however, provide a width greater than the width of the opening 12 so that when the trunnions are positioned in the open bearings 24, 24', the latch actuating lever B is pivotally related to the plate member A, as shown in FIG. 8. The latch actuating lever is pivotally connected to the plate member by any suitable means, and as will be subsequently described, such means is provided by the cover plate I-I which also functions to support the locking bolt F.

As shown in FIG. 2, the lever arm 26 has a width slightly less than the width of the recess 1); Also, and as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the recess 1S (together with the length of the opening 12) is longer than the arm 26, whereby a finger may be inserted in the recess to engage the end 30 of the lever arm at the arcuate portion 18. The underside of the arm 26 may be provided with a projection 32 for engagement `with the bottom wall 14 of the recess which provides a stop to limit the extent of rotation of the latch actuating member `B when moved to the down or latched position, as shown in FIG. 3.

As will be evident from FIG. 3, when the latch actuating lever B is in the down position, the upper surface 34 of the arm 26 lies in substantially the same plane as the outer surface 2t) of the plate member A to thereby furnish a substantially at, exposed surface for the latching device. When the latching device is assembled with the wall W of a luggage section, only the uppermost portion of the plate member is exposed and such portion may project as little as 7/32 above the adjoining surface. To secure the latching device to the wall W, the plate member is provided with a plurality of securing means which, when the plate member is made as a die casting, may be in the form of integral connecting studs. As shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, a stud 38 is positioned near one end of the plate member to extend perpendicularly from the underside thereof and a pair of transversely spaced connecting studs 40, 40 extend from the underside of the plate member near the opposite end thereof. The stud members are extended through aligned openings formed in the wall W and are of a length to enable the ends thereof to be headed over on the underside of the wall to irmly connect the plate member and its associated parts to the wall. The walls W and W may be of any suitable material of which luggage shells are made as is well known in the art. As illustrated, the walls comprise a wood base 42 to which a layer of decorative plastic material 44 is adhered. It will be understood that the wall may be entirely of molded plastic material or a drawn metal shell which is coated or overlain with a suitable decorative material.

As shown in FIGS. 3, 4, 8 and 9, the latch actuating lever B is provided with means cooperable with the spring E to resiliently maintain the lever in its respective latched and unlatched positions. For this purpose, a web 46 is provided to extend between the arms 28, 28 for a portion of their length. The web extends across the rear sides of the arms so that a ledge 48 is provided intermediate the arms in a plane substantially on the axis of the trunnions 22, 22. As will be subsequently described, the ledge 48 furnishes means for cooperation with the locking bolt to lock the latch actuating lever B and the latch member C in latched position. The web 46 terminates in an edge 5t) which is above the free ends or tips 52, 52 of the arms 28, 28 when the latch actuating lever is assembled with the plate member. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the web 46 provides a surface which extends at an obtuse angle with respect to the plane of the arm 26 for engagement by the spring E when the lever iS in its down or latched position (FIG. 3).

As shown in FIGS. 3, 4 and 9, the spring E is in the form of a leaf spring and has a main body portion 54 and an extension 56 which is cooperable with the web 46 on the lever B. The extension is made to curve upwardly from the plane of the main body portion. The spring is secured to the underside of the plate member A by provinding the plate member with a pair of integral, downwardly extending, longitudinally spaced connecting studs 58, 58 which are extended through aligned openings in the main body portion of the spring and then headed over to secure the connection of the parts, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. When the latch actuating lever B is rotated from its latched position of FIG. 3 to the unlatched position of FIG. 4, the spring extension 56 is depressed whereby the edge 50 of the web rides up on the spring extension and the lever is resiliently held in its up and unlatched position. Upon rotating the lever in reverse direction, the spring causes the lever to snap down to the latched position shown in FIG. 3.

As shown in FIGS. 3, 4 and 7, the latch member is formed to receive the arm means or transversely spaced parallel arms 28, 28. For this purpose, the latch member is provided with a pair of openings 60, 60 within which are positioned the free ends or tips 52, 52 of the arms 28, 28. The latch member which also is preferably made by die casting comprises a transversely extending wall 62 through which extend the openings 60, 60. The sides adjoining the openings may be provided with beveled portions, as shown in FIGS. 3, 4 and 5. The wall 62 extends across the top of a pair of longitudinally extending runners 64, 64 so that the latch member may be moved within its housing `with a minimum of friction. As best shown in FIGS. 3, 4, 5 and 7, the latch member is positioned in the housing I.

The housing is preferably made of a pair of members 66 and 68 which, when assembled with one another, enclose the latch member C except for a transverse opening 70 (FIG. 7) facing the hasp D which enters such opening for cooperation with the latch member. The latch member is confined within the housing for longitudinal sliding movement by the latch actuating lever B. The housing members 66 and 68 are in the form of flat plates respectively provided with inturned side walls 72 and 74. The side walls for each of the housing members do not extend entirely around the respective members but complement each other so that the exposed edges of the side walls abut the opposite housing members and thereby provide a suitable cavity for containing the latch member. The side wall 72 of the bottom housing member 66 is provided with a plurality of extensions or tangs 76 (FIG. 5) which are bent over onto the top housing member to connect the housing members to one another in vertically spaced relationship. The upper housing member 68 is provided with an opening 78 to allow the tips 52, 52 of the lever arms 28, 28' to be positioned within the openings 60, 60 in the latch member. The wall W is provided with an aligned opening 79 to allow the arms to extend therethrough and to permit the arms to swing through their arc of rotation. The runners 64, 64' ride upon the inner side of the housing member 66 and are restricted for longitudinal movement by guide projections 80, 80 formed in the fbottom housing member 66 at opposite ends of the housing. As shown in FIG. 5, the projections are of a transverse dimension slightly less than the distance between the runners 64, 64. The projections which are formed by displacing the metal of the housing member 66 provide indentations on the underside of the member 66. These indentations function to provide countersunk areas to receive the ends of means for connecting the housing I and its contained latch member C to the plate member A and its associated latch actuating lever B, and for connecting such parts to the wall of a container section.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the housing comprises the housing members 66 and 68 provided with aligned openings 82, 82' and 84, 84', the former pair of openings being at the centers of the projections 80, The plate member is provided with integral, downwardly extending, longitudinally spaced connecting studs 86, 86 located on the central longitudinal axis of the plate member. The wall W of a case section is provided with aligned openings 8S, 88 to allow the connecting studs to be extended therethrough and through the openings 84, 84 and 82, 82 in the housing members 68 and 66. The main body portion S4 of the spring IE is provided with an opening to allow the stud 86' to extend therethrough. Heading over the ends of the connecting studs 86, 86 rmly connects the plate member and the latch actuating lever to the housing and its contained latch member, and these parts are connected in the desired assembled relationship with the wall W of a case section.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 5, the latch member C is formed to provide a transversely extending hook 90 which comprises a portion 92 which extends at an angle of approximately 45 with respect to the longitudinal axis of the latch member. The hook has a second section 94 which extends parallel to the longitudinal axis of the latch member. The sections 92 and 94 are, of course, integrally connected to one another and are an integral part of the latch member. The section 94 terminates on its inner side with a cam 96 for cooperation with the hasp member to draw the hasp member inwardly toward the latching device. The section 94 is provided with a second cam 98 at its outer side for cooperation with a portion of the hasp to eject or push away the hasp from the latch member and the latching device of which the latch member is a part when the latch member is moved to unlatched position.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 7, the hasp member D comprises a base portion 100 from which there transversely extends a pair of longitudinally spaced, parallel arms 102 and 104. The arms 102 and 104 are bent out of the plane of the base portion 100 so that the arms may enter the opening 70 for cooperation with the latch member (FIG. 7). The hasp may be secured to the wall W by any suitable means suchas rivets 105, 10S extended through the wall and the hasps base portion 100 as shown in FIGS. 2 and 7. The arm 102 is longer than the arm 104 and is provided with an inturned hook 106 which terminates in a nose 108. The hook 106 is adapted to be received within the opening intermediate the inner edges of the portions 92 and 94 or the hook 90 provided by the latch member. The hasp arm 104 terminates in a rounded end 110. The space between the nose 108 and the arm end 110 allows entry of the section 94 of the latch members hook for hooking engagement with the hook 106 of the hasp.

FIG. 6 illustrates the coaction of the latch member and the hasp to draw the hasp toward the latch member when the latch member is being moved from unlatched to latched position. As illustrated, the movement of the latch member C in the direction indicated by the arrow L causes the hasp drawing cam 96 to engage the nose 103. The angle on the cam 96 causes the hasp to be moved in the direction indicated by the arrow Y. Thus, longitudinal movement in the direction L is translated to a movement of the hasp in a transverse direction Y which is toward the latch member. Continued movement of the latch member results in the hasp being hooked by the latch member, as shown in FIG. 2. The movement of the latch member C in the direction indicated is accomplished by rotating the lever arm 26 from the position shown in FIG. 4 to the position thereof shown in FIG. 3.

FIG. 6A illustrates the ejection action afforded by the latch member upon the hasp. When the latch member is moved from the latched position of FIG. 3, to the unlatched position of FIG. 4, the latch member is moved longitudinally in the direction of the arrow U. When the hasp 'ejecting cam 98 engages the end 110 of the arm 104, the hasp is firmly and positively ejected in a transverse direction away from the latch member as indicated by the arrow Z.

As previously indicated, the latching device of the invention is preferably provided with means for locking the latch member in latched position. For this purpose, the underside of the plate member A is provided with a cavity 112 (FIG. 8) within which the locking bolt F is positioned. As shown in FIG. 2, the locking bolt is a substantially Y-shaped member and comprises a central base portion 114 and a pair of transversely spaced arms 116, 116. The inner side of the arm 116 is provided with a cutout 118 to receive the tang of a key (not shown) which is inserted through the opening in the key barrel G. By rotating the key, the locking bolt may be moved from its unlocked posiion to the locked position where the base portion 114 is located under the ledge 48. With the locking bolt in such position, the lever arm 26 cannot be lifted and the device is locked in its latched condition. By rotating the key in the opposite direction, the locking bolt is moved longitudinally to a position where the base portion no longer blocks the rotation of the latch actuating lever thereby permitting the lever to be rotated to the unlatched position.

The locking bolt is maintained in assembled relationship with the plate member A by the cover plate H. As shown in FIG. 9, the cover plate is provided with cutouts to clear the connecting studs 86, 40 and 46. The cover plate is provided with openings through which are ex tended a pair of transversely spaced connecting studs 117, 117 formed integrally with and extending downwardly from the underside of the plate member. Upon heading over the ends of the studs, the cover plate is connected to the plate member and the locking bolt is supported thereby. The cover plate may also be made with an opening 121i for locating the lower extremity of a key. To main tain the locking holt in its respective locked and unlocked positions, the cover plate is provided with a pair of spaced dimples 119, 119 (FIG. 3) adapted to receive a projection 121 (FIG. 2) on the underside of one of the arms of the locking bolt.

While as previously indicated, any suitable means may be provided to secure the trunnions 22, 22 in their bearings 24, 24' so that the latch actuating lever B is pivotally connected to the plate member A, Stich purpose may be most economically accomplished by providing the cover plate H with a pair of laterally spaced extensions 122, 122 which lie beneath the trunnions to prevent their escape from the bearings in which they are situated, In order that the resulting bearings may conform with the cylindricity of the trunnions, the extensions 122, 122' may be provided with generally semi-circular depressions 124, 124 at the areas of the trunnions. The cover plate is further secured to the plate member by providing the plate member with a pair of transversely spaced connecting studs 126, 126 integrally formed therewith and extending from the underside thereof. These connecting studs are extended through aligned openings formed near the ends of the extensions 122, 122 and are headed over to secure the parts.

FIG. 1 shows a pair of latching devices secured to the wall W of a case section. As illustrated, a plate P extends between the latching devices for the support of a handle Q. In order to furnish a continuous effect for the -latching devices and handle supporting plate, the plate member A may be recessed at 12S, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 to thereby furnish a flush appearance for the hardware.

FIG. 7 shows a pair of valance members V and V at the edges of the case section. Such valance members form no part of the invention, and it will be understood that the latching and locking device herein described and its associated hasp may be used for any luggage case, receptacle or container for which it is desired to latch together the sections thereof. The case sections need not have valance members at their confronting edges. However, if

Valance members of the configuration shown are used, the valance V may 'be provided with an opening 130 to allow the hasp to extend therethrough for cooperation with the latch member.

It is believed that the advantages and improved results of the invention will be apparent from the foregoing detailed description of a preferred embodiment of the latching device, latching and locking device and hasp. It will `be apparent that various changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as sought to be defined by the following claims.

I claim:

1. A latching device and a hasp for luggage and the like, said latching device comprising a plate member, latsh actuating means connected to the plate member, and a latch member mounted for longitudinal movement, cooperable means provided by the latch actuating means and the latch member whereby manual operation of the latch actuating means moves the latch member from unlatched to latched positions and vice versa, said latch member having a transversely extending hook provided with a hasp drawing cam on the inner side thereof and a hasp ejecting cam on the outer side thereof, said hasp comprising a pair of longitudinally spaced, transversely extending arms. one of the arms having a hook for engagement with said latch member hook and terminating in a nose for cooperation with said hasp drawing cam, the end of the second arm being cooperable with said hasp ejecting cam.

2. A latching device and a hasp as set forth in claim 1, wherein the latch actuating means has means associated therewith for resiliently maintaining the latch actuating means in its respective latched and unlatched positions.

3. A latching device and a hasp as set forth in claim 1, wherein the latch member is contained in a housing having a transverse opening to allow entry of the hasp arms, and means for connecting the plate member to the housing.

4. A latching device and a hasp as set forth in claim 1, wherein the latch mem-ber is contained in a housing having a transverse opening to allow entry of the hasp arms; wherein the plate -memtber is provided with integral connecting means adapted to secure the plate member to the outer side of a wall of a luggage case section; and wherein the plate member is provided with integral connecting means adapted to secure the plate member to the housing positioned on the inner sidey of the wall.

S. A latching device and a hasp as set forth in claim 1, including a locking Ibolt supported on the underside of the plate member, cooperable means provided by the locking bolt and the latch actutting means to block actuation of the latch actuating means, the plate member having key admission means and the locking bolt having key cooperable means whereby the locking -bolt may be moved from a position to block and a position to unblock the latch actuating means and vice versa.

6. A latching device and a hasp as set forth in claim 1, wherein the plate memiber has a recess in the outer face thereof, said recess terminating at one end thereof in an opening extending through the plate member; wherein the latch actuating lmeans comprises a lever, pivot means at one end of the lever connecting the lever to the plate member adjacent said opening, said lever having one arm adapted to lie in said recess when the lever is in latched position, the opposite end of the arm being manually engageable to rotate the lever about said pivot means whereby the lever may be rotated to unlatched position; and where-in the cooperable 4means provided by the latch actuating means comprises arm means extending rom said arm through said opening in cooperable relation with means provided by the latch member.

7. A latching device and a hasp as set forth in claim 6, wherein the arm means comprises a pair of parallel, transversely spaced arms; wherein the means provided Iby the latch 'member comprises a pair of openings within which are positioned the ends of said arms; wherein a web is provided intermediate said arms, said web providing a surface for engagement with a spring; and wherein a leaf spring is secured to the underside of the plate member and has a portion thereof in engagement with said surface.

S. A latching device for l-uggage or the like comprising a plate member having a recess in the outer face thereof, said recess terminating at one end thereof in an opening extending through the plate member, a latch actuating lever, pivot means at `one end of the lever connecting the lever to the plate member, the axis of rotataion of the lever extending across said opening, said lever having one arm adapted to lie in said reces-s when the lever is in latched position, the opposite end of the arm being manually engageable to rotate the lever about said pivot means whereby the lever may be rotated to unlatched position, means for resiliently maintaining the lever in its respective latched and unlatched positions, a latch member -beneath the plate member mounted for longitudinal movement, said lever having arm means extending through said opening in cooperable relation with means provided by said latch member, whereby rotation of the lever out of said recess causes the latch member to move to unlatched position and rotation of the lever back into the recess causes the latch member to be moved to latching position, and a locking bolt supported on the underside of the plate member, means provided by the lever adjacent the pivot means for cooperation with the locking bolt to block rotation of the lever, the plate member having key admission `means and the locking bolt having key cooperable means whereby the locking bolt may be moved from a position to block and a position to unblock the lever and vice versa.

9. A latching device as set forth in claim 8, wherein the arm means comprises a pair of parallel, transversely spaced arms; wherein the means provided by the latch member comprises a pair of openings within which are positioned the ends of said arms; wherein a web is provided intermediate said arms, said web providing a surface for engagement with a spring; and wherein the means for resiliently maintaining the lever in its respective latched and unlatched positions comprises a leaf spring secured to the underside of the plate member and has -a portion thereof in engagement with said surface.

10. A latching device as set forth in claim 8, wherein the latch member has a transversely extending hook adapted to engage a hasp, said hook having a hasp drawing cam on the inner side thereof and a hasp ejecting cam on the outer side thereof; wherein the arm means comprises a pair of parallel, transversely spaced arms; wherein the means provided by the latch member comprises a pair of openings within which are positioned the ends of said arms, wherein a web is provided intermediate said arms, said web providing a surface for engagement with a spring; wherein the means for resiliently maintaining the leave in its respective latched and unlatched positions comprises a leaf spring secured to the underside of the plate member and has a portion thereof in engagement with said surface.

11. A latching device for luggage or the like comprising a plate member having a recess in the outer face thereof, said recess terminating at one end thereof in an opening extending through the plate member, a latch actuating lever, pivot means at one end of the lever connecting the lever to the plate member, the axis of rotation of the lever extending across said opening, said lever having one arm adapted to lie in said recess when the lever is in latched position, the opposite end of the arm being manually engageable to rotate the lever about said pivot means whereby the lever may be rota-ted to unlatched position, means for resiliently maintaining the lever in its respective latched and unlatched positions, a latch member beneath the plate member mounted for longitudinal movement, the latch member having a transversely extending book adapted to engage a hasp, -said hook having a hasp drawing cam on the inner side thereof and a hasp ejecting cam on the outer side thereof, said lever having arm means extending through said opening in cooperable relation with means provided by said latch member, whereby rotation of the lever out of said recess causes the latch member to move to unlatched position, and rotation of the lever back into the recess causes the latch member to be moved to latching position.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,354,606- 10/ 1920 Erwin 70-72 2,817,554 12/ 1957 Hasselmark 292-340 3,034,327 5/ 1962 Garmon 70-70 3,183,691 5/1965 Gehrie 70-70 MARVIN A. CHAMPION, Primary Examiner.

E. I. MCCARTHY, Assistant Examiner. 

